Hair cutting and trimming device



- March 11, 1941.

H. LEWIS 2,234,440 Y HAIR CUTTING AND TRIMMING DEV ICE Filed March 8, 1940 INVENTOR. 'HARE/SON L 5 Wu;

BY ZTTORNEY,

Patented Mar. 11, 1941 PA TENT OFFICE nun our'rmc am: 'mnnmre nsvron Harrison Lewis, San Francisco, Calif. Application March 8, 1940, Serial No. 322,935

l 2 Claims. (01. 30-30) The invention, in general, relates to means for enabling a person neatly and effectively to cut and to trim his'own hair or the hair of another. More particularly, the invention relates to a device embodying a double interlocking comb-like structure carrying and encompassing ,a blade with the cutting edge thereof enveloped so as to prevent injury to the user of the device.

- The present invention constitutes an improvement upon my hair trimming and cutting devices disclosed in Letters Patent Nos. 2,165,391 and 2,171,880, granted to me on July 11, 1939 and September 5, 1939, respectively, as well as improvement upon my device for cutting and trimming hair which is disclosed in my pendingapplication bearing Serial No. 318,081, filed February 9, 1940.

The hereinafter described device must in no way be confused with devices that are designed for the purpose of shaving inasmuch as my present improvement is so constructed as to prevent cutting of the hair too close to the skin of an individual and, further, is so constructed that it will follow in an even manner the contour of the head thereby cutting the hair smoothly and evenly in a tapering manner.

The objects of the present invention are similar to the objects set forth in my above mentioned pending application and such objects are incorporated herein by reference and adopted as a part of this application as fully as if the said objects were fully set forth herein.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of means in a device for trimming hair affording the bringing of portions of the cutting edge of a blade more closely to the scalp to efi'ect a tapering trim on the neck and around the ears; of means afiording a cushioning engagement of the device with the scalp; and of means for lessening the resistance to movement of comb teeth through the hair.

The foregoing and other objects are attainedin the preferred embodiment of the improvement gulch is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood that the showings are for purposes of explanation and exemplification of a. preferred embodiment only and that I am not .to be limited to the precise arrangement of parts nor to the precise embodiment shown, as

my improvement, as defined in the appended claims, can be of forms.

Referring tothe drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the obverse of embodied in a plurality and variety one of the elements of the preferred embodiment of the present improvement.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my improvement as completely assembled and ready for use.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the obverse of another element of the present improvement.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the reverse of the element shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, slightly en- 10 larged, of the interlocking comb-like structure and encompassed blade of the preferred embodiment of the improvement, the manipulating handle being shown in fragmentary elevation.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the reverse side of the element shown in Figure 1.

In its preferred form, the hair cutting and trimming device of my present improvement preferably comprises a base having a blade readjacent to the front thereof, a blade removably mounted on said surface, a plate removably overlying said blade and interlocking with said base substantially to encompass said blade, a comb- ,ceiving surface that is slightly curved upwardly 20 like structure on said plate consisting of a plu- 25 rality of relatively long, spaced teeth having relatively high side walls for lifting and holding the hair in the most advantageous position for cutting and trimming, means onthe under sides of said teeth for counter-sinking and embedding 30 the cutting edge of said blade to limit the amount of said edge that is exposed and to prevent cutting the hair too close to the skin,- together with means on said plate for conveyinghair that has been cut away from the cutting edge of said 35 blade to prevent clogging thereof, and means for firmly holding said base and plate in interlocking relationship and for manipulating the device.

As in the case of my'hair cutting device dis- 4o closed in the aforementioned pending application, the present improvement consists of a minimum of parts including a .base H, a blade l2, a combining plate l3- including a comb-like structure thereon, and a manipulating handle I. 45

With the exception of the blade l2, which can be a conventional safety razor blade, the improved device can be fabricated entirely of metal, such as from aluminum or an aluminum alloy,'or from any other suitable metal. or, if desired, the fore- 50 going parts may be fabricated or molded from a suitable plastic material, such as a phenolic condensate.

With reference particularly to Figures 1 and 6 of the drawing, the base ll preferably is formed with an upper surface It that is slightly curved upwardly adjacent to the front thereof and that is provided with an upstanding flange H at the 'rear thereof defining a shoulder 18 against which the blade of the combination abuts when in operative use. The base II is conveniently provided with a short threaded stud IQ for detachably re-' ceiving the manipulating handle l4, and the upper su face iii of the base is formed with a ridge 2| thereon extending from opposite sides of the stud I9 for confining the blade l2 against movement thereon. The blade I2,-of course, is formed with a central opening, not shown, for passing the stud l9, as well as with an elongated slot, also not shown, for passing the ridge 2| on the base H. Preferably, the bottom of the base is formedwith alternating ridges 22 and grooves 23, as depicted in Figure 6 of the drawing, in order that the cutting edge of the blade may be brought into close contact with the head as the bottom is drawn over the head in using the device. The base II also is provided with a pair of forwardly projecting extensions 24 at its opposite sides, as shown, which define shoulders 25 for effecting interlocking engagement with the combining plate 13.

In accordance with this improvement, I provide a comb-like structure upon the plate l3 which is designated generally by the reference numeral 26. Preferably, the comb-like structure comprises a plurality of elongated, spaced teeth 21 which are tapered longitudinally to form pointed tips 28 thereon, and which are beveled top and bottom to decrease to a minimum the resistance to movement of the teeth through the hair. The beveled under sides or bottoms of the teeth provide beadlikeelements 29 which produce a cushioning engagement with the head as the device is drawn thereover. In addition, the teeth 21 of the comblike structure are formed with side walls 3| that are relatively low adjacent to' the tips 28 but which are relatively high adjacent to the rear of the teeth, the walls serving effectively to lift and to hold the hair in the most advantageous position for cutting and trimming. As particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, plate I3 is provided with a central opening 32 for passing the stud 19 extending from base II, as well as with an elongated slot 33 extending from opposite sides of the opening 32 for .passing the ridge 2| on the upper surface It of the base when the plate and base are combined and interlocked. Moreover, the rear of the plate 13 is undercut, as at 34, to provide a cooperating shoulder for effecting an interlock with the flange l1 and shoulder 18 thereof on base ll, all as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawing. The end teeth of the comb-like structure 26 likewise are undercut, as at 35, in order to provide cooperating interlocking shoulders thereon at the front of the plate to effect an interlock with the base at the front extensions 24 and shoulders 25.

In order to prevent injury to the user of the device, the extent to which thecut'ting edge of the blade I 2 is exposed is limited so that it is ex:

posed only between the teeth 21 of the combli ke structure. To this end, the back portions of the undersides of all teeth except the end teeth of the comb-like structure are recessed, as indicated by the reference numeral 36, for the purpose of counter-sinking and embedding the cutting edge of the blade when the plate and base are combined and interlocked and the handle l4 assembled and tightened thereon for operative use of the device, as shown in Figure 2.

Means are provided for conveying hair that has been cut away from the cutting edge of the blade and preferably are provided upon the combining plate l3, As particularly illustrated in Figures :2 and 3 of the drawing, the upper sur face of the plate I3 is cut away between the teeth 21 of the comb-like structure to form inclined guides 31 which lead from points adjacent to the cutting edge of the blade upwardly and back to the rear of the teeth. In drawing the bottom of the base ll over the head in the cutting and trimming operation, the hair is lifted and held in the most advantageous position by the walls 3| of the teeth 21 and, upon being cut, the hair is conveyed away upwardly and back from the cutting edge of the blade to thus prevent clogging thereof.

The handle I! of the device is of the convention'al type having an internally threaded socket for removably receiving stud IQ of the base. Upon assembly of. the blade l2 upon the base, which is partially guided to its operative position by the stud l9 and the ridge 2| of the base, and then positioning the combining plate l3 in overlying and interlocking relationship with the base so as substantially to encompass the blade, it is only necessary to tighten handle l4 down upon the plate l3 to firmly hold the parts together and to flex the forward portion of the blade so as to counter-sink and embed the cutting edge thereof in the recesses 36 of theteet-h 21 of the comb-like structure. It is to be observed that the device can as readily be dismantled whenever it is desired to replace a blade.

The improved device is especially effective in affording a smooth, even tapering hair cut or trim over the entire head including thatportion of the head in close relationship to the ears, as

' well as in affording what is commonly termed a feathered edge finish on the neck. Due to the fact that the blade is almost completely encompassed between the combining plate and the base, and the further fact that the cutting edge of the blade is counter-sunk and embedded in the teeth of the comb-like structure leaving only those portions of the cutting edge of the blade between the teeth exposed, danger of injury to the user of the device is prevented. Moreover, by virtue of the tight interlocking fit between the base and the plate, there are no spaces remaining in which hair that has been out can accumulate.

I claim:

l. A compact hair cutting and trimming device base, a plate removably overlying said blade and including a plurality of elongated, spaced teeth extending from the front thereof; said teeth being recessed on-their under sides for receiving the cutting edge of said blade when flexed, inclined guides formed on said plate between adjacent teeth for conveying hair that has been cut away from the cutting edge of said blade, and a handle detachably connected to said stud for holding said plate, blade and base together and for drawing the cutting edge of the blade at any desired angle with respect to the scalp; said handle being adapted, when affixed to said stud, to flex said blade to bring the cutting edge thereof into the recesses of said teeth.

- 2. A compact hair cutting and trimming device comprising a base, a threaded stud on said base and extending at substantially right angles thereto, a. blade removably disposed on said base with its cutting edge projecting in front thereof, a plate removably overlying said blade and including a plurality of elongated, spaced teethextending from the front thereof; said teeth being recessed on their under sides to receive the cutting edge of said blade when flexed, and a handle detachably connected to said stud for holding said plate, blade and base together and for drawing the cutting edge of said blade at any desired angle with respect to the scalp; said handle being adapted, when affixed to said stud; to flex said-blade to bring the cutting edge thereof-into the recesses of said teeth thereby limiting the extent of exposure of the cutting edge of said blade.

HARRISON LEWIS. 

